Interim boss Roberts Rules out Permanent Bermuda Hot Seat
IslandStats.com
Bermuda Senior Women’s National Team interim head coach Karl Roberts has firmly ruled himself out of the running for the permanent managerial position, insisting his sole focus remains assisting the team through its current transition.
Roberts, who was handed the reins alongside Calvin Dill for the international friendly double-header against Belize following the departure of long-standing manager Naquita "Coach Keta" Robinson, made it clear he has no desire to assume the top job full-time.
Speaking candidly after his side's latest performance, Roberts downplayed any speculation that he was looking to audition for a long-term tenure in the technical area.
"In reference to me taking on the senior role—no, I have no intentions of replacing Keta," Roberts stated. "Keta brought me in to assist, and that's it. I had no intentions of taking that position.
"I have already talked to the BFA concerning it, and I have no interest in taking it on as a head coach."
Despite ruling himself out of the flagship position, Roberts emphasized that his commitment to the growth of the women's game on the island remains completely unchanged.
"In some way, I still would possibly be interested in helping out or assisting with the senior women," he added, leaving the door open to support whoever the Bermuda Football Association eventually instates as the permanent successor.
On the field, Roberts was quick to highlight the tactical strides his squad made between their first and second outings, noting a massive leap in execution and spatial awareness despite what the scorelines might suggest.
Reflecting on the strategic adjustments made during intense training sessions between matchdays, the interim boss praised his players for successfully implementing the tactical tweaks.
"Yesterday’s game was quite good," Roberts explained. "We practiced after Thursday's game in preparation for yesterday, and we went over a few things that we saw in the first game and sought to improve.
"Yesterday’s game was a lot better in reference to how we played. We kept the ball better for longer occasions, and the movement off the ball was better by the ladies. The decision-making was better from the first game to the second game."
While football managers are frequently judged on raw data, Roberts insisted that the overall progression of the squad outweighed the optics of the final whistle.
"Even though the scoreline doesn't really reflect it, our play was better in yesterday's game," Roberts concluded. "Applause to the players. They are coachable, they want to do well, and from their energy, it’s just a matter of nurturing and guiding them."
Sunday, June 07, 2026
Bermuda Women Edge Belize at the Sports Center
IslandStats.com
Bermuda 1 Belize 0
Bermuda’s Senior Women’s National Team enjoyed a triumphant evening on home soil, navigating a hard-fought battle to secure a 1-0 victory over Belize at the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium.
In an evenly contested international encounter, it was a moment of magic immediately after the restart that separated the two sides and delighted the home crowd.
Following a tense, scoreless first half where clear-cut chances were at a premium, Bermuda struck what proved to be the decisive blow in the 47th minute. Keunna Dill found the breakthrough, clinical with her finish to break the deadlock and secure the narrow win for the hosts.
The result mirrors the global standings, with Bermuda—ranked 142nd in the FIFA world rankings—justifying their status against a resilient Belize side sitting 26 places below them in 168th.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, a disciplined Bermudian backline held firm to ensure the clean sheet remained intact at the final whistle.
Saturday, June 06, 2026
World Cup-Bound Cape Verde Coast Past Resilient Bermuda
IslandStats.com
Cape Verde 3 Bermuda 0
Cape Verde’s historic countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continued in impressive fashion as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over a spirited Bermuda side at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium.
The international friendly in Hartford, Connecticut, served as a momentous occasion for both camps. For Cape Verde, it provided a vital sharpening of their tactical tools before making their debut on football’s grandest stage later this month. For Bermuda’s transitioning squad, it was a rigorous, invaluable measuring stick against elite, top-70 international opposition.
Cape Verde Starting Line Up: - Rosa M. Arcanjo T., Costa L., Duarte D., Joao Paulo, Jovane., Livramento D., Mendes R., Moreira S., Semedo W., Stopira - Substitutes: - Benchimol, Borges D., Da Costa N., dos Santos C. J., Duarte L., Lenini K., Lopes Cabral S., Lopes R., Monteiro J., Pina W., Pires K., Rodrigues G., Semedo Y., Varela H., Vozinha (G) - Bermuda Starting Lie Up: - Milai Perott, Ajani Burchall, Julian Carpenter, Daniel Cook, Xahvi Deroza, Jorj Dublin, Deniche Hill, Zeiko Lewis, Brighton Morrison, Lazai Outerbridge, Ne-Jai Tucker - Substitutes: Andrew Armstrong, Arnezha Astwood, Jace Donawa, Jahquil Hill, Logan Jimenez, David Jones, Sachiel Ming, Senoj Mitchell, Daniel Powell, Luke Robinson, Riley Robinson, Khari Sharieff, Aunde Todd
Skippered by veteran forward Zeiko Lewis, a disciplined Bermuda outfit frustrated the African qualifiers for large portions of the opening period. However, Cape Verde's superior athleticism and top-tier European pedigree eventually wore down the islanders' resistance.
Bermuda started brightly, employing a compact low block that restricted space for Cape Verde's playmaker, Jamiro Monteiro. Young goalkeeper Milai Perott looked assured between the posts early on, marshalling a backline anchored by Brighton Morrison and Daniel Cook.
The Blue Sharks' persistence ultimately paid dividends in the 33rd minute. Pulling the Bermudian defense out of shape with sharp, one-touch passing along the edge of the box, Willy Semedo found half a yard of space. The forward made no mistake, drilling a low, powerful effort past a diving Perott to open the scoring.
Bermuda did well to absorb further pressure before the interval, walking down the tunnel at halftime trailing by just a single goal and very much remaining in the contest.
Any hopes of a second-half Bermudian fightback were severely dented just four minutes after the restart.
In the 49th minute, Cape Verde capitalised on a turnover in midfield. Second-half substitute Garry Rodrigues latched onto a defense-splitting ball, outpacing the trailing Bermuda defenders before expertly lofting the ball into the top corner to double the advantage.
Bermuda rung the changes late on, blooding young talent from the bench including Sachiel Ming and Luke Robinson to inject fresh energy into the side. Bermuda pushed forward valiantly in search of a consolation goal, with Ne-Jai Tucker testing the Cape Verdean keeper from distance.
However, the final say belonged to the World Cup-bound side. One minute into stoppage time, Nuno da Costa ghosted into the penalty box to tap home Cape Verde’s third, sealing a polished victory that highlights the steep learning curve required at the absolute pinnacle of international football.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
Dill Double Inspires Bermuda to Shutout Victory over Belize
IslandStats.com
Bermuda 4 Belize 0
The Bermuda Senior Women’s National Team enjoyed a triumphant evening on home soil, navigating slick, wet conditions at the Flora Duffy South Field Stadium to secure a dominant 4-0 victory over Belize.
The first of two scheduled friendly matches between the sides was defined by defensive stability and clinical finishing from the Bermuda team. Two goals in the first half from Keunna Dill laid a flawless foundation before the hosts added late gloss to wrap up a comprehensive international shutout.
Despite the persistent downpour making underfoot conditions treacherous at the National Sports Centre, Bermuda settled into their rhythm early, dictating possession from the backline.
The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute when Keunna Dill found space inside the penalty area to rifle home the opener. Belize struggled to mount a cohesive counter-offensive against Bermuda's high press, with the hosts' midfield engine room routinely breaking up play.
Just two minutes before the interval, Dill struck again. Capitalizing on a loose clearance, she doubled her personal tally and Bermuda's advantage in the 43rd minute, ensuring the hosts took a comfortable 2-0 cushion into the halftime team talk.
Bermuda showed no signs of complacency upon the restart, ruthlessly extending their lead just two minutes into the second period. International standout Kenni Thompson added her name to the scoresheet in the 47th minute, capitalizing on defensive hesitation in the Belize rearguard to make it 3-0.
With the game firmly secured, the Bermudian coaching staff utilized their deep bench to maintain momentum and hand valuable international minutes to the squad's emerging prospects.
Belize's starting unit, anchored by goalkeeper Jasmin Armstrong, fought valiantly to restrict further damage as the rain continued to slick the surface. However, the relentless home pressure told one final time deep into added time.
One minute into stoppage time, substitute Evans Welch found the back of the net with a composed finish, putting the final gloss on a breathless 4-0 performance that leaves Bermuda full of confidence ahead of the second friendly fixture.
Wednesday, June 03, 2026
Bermuda Men's National Team Suffers Defeat
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Senior Men’s National Team endured a demanding evening on the pitch, falling to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat against Rhode Island in an international warm-up fixture.
The match carried significant emotional and tactical weight, pitting the national squad directly against Rhode Island head coach Khano Smith—the iconic former Bermuda international captain who has been rapidly forging an impressive managerial career in North American professional football.
Ultimately, it was Smith’s highly disciplined, tactically sharp outfit that dictated the terms of the contest, leaving the island selectors with plenty of structural homework ahead of their upcoming competitive cycle.
Bermuda entered the exhibition contest looking to establish a fluid passing rhythm and integrate emerging domestic talent into the senior setup. However, Rhode Island's high-pressing system caught the visitors cold in the opening exchanges.
Exploiting spaces out wide and moving transitively between defensive and attacking phases, Smith's men sliced through the Bermudian rearguard to bag two quick-fire goals before the half-hour mark.
Despite frantic technical adjustments from the Bermuda coaching staff from the technical area, the team struggled to retain possession in the final third or provide adequate service to their isolated forward line.
The pattern of dominance continued into the second half as Rhode Island utilized their deep bench to maintain a blistering physical tempo.
Two further goals resulted from clinical counter-attacking sequences, ruthlessly punishing unforced turnovers in the center of the park.
While the 4-0 scoreline makes for sobering reading, the exercise provided the Bermudian coaching staff with a vital, high-intensity evaluation tool, exposing critical defensive vulnerabilities that must be urgently addressed before the squad embarks on its formal qualification campaigns later in the summer.
